The Gospel reading this week takes us to Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer. I call it “the other Lord’s Prayer” because the one that is recited in worship services is from Matthew’s Gospel. If you are interested in comparing the two prayers, click the link below for The Art Pastor’s Guide to the Lord’s Prayer.
Luke’s version of how Jesus teaches his disciples to pray has some significant differences from Matthew’s and, in combination with the other readings in the lectionary this week, are important for us today.
First, Luke places this story during the travel narrative when Jesus is heading to Jerusalem to die. He is teaching his disciples that they must also take up their crosses if they want to follow him. The Way of Jesus is treacherous. The 1st readings tell the story of war and violence and how the prophets of God had to speak truth to currupt power systems and ask for God’s mercy.
Second, Luke attaches a parable to the prayer to emphasize how willing God is to give gifts to God’s children. God is not a distant tyrant, waiting to be appeased. God is a loving parent, wanting what is best for God’s children. Ask, seek, knock, God is there for you.
Third, the gift God wants to give is the Holy Spirit. This is an important point. The Lord’s Prayer is not a magic token in the Divine vending machine to get whatever you want out of life. God gives us what we need, and what we need is to be filled with God’s Spirit so that we can endure and discern what truth, love, peace, and justice look like in our context.
May you be filled with the assurance that your heavenly parent loves you, wants to hear from you, freely offers the Holy Spirit to you, and longs for the day when God’s steadfast love and our faithfulness meet and righteousness and peace kiss each other in our world (Psalm 85).
Every week I compile all the visual resources on cartoonistbible.com for the lectionary readings on both the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary. Get them in your inbox every Monday morning.
